Witch King: After all these years, Leithanians still can't get bread?

Clearly, some people knew of the Witch King's cruelty, mostly persecuted Infected or those forced to become Infected voluntarily. However, the general impression of the Witch King among the non- Infected and nobles who hadn't been persecuted was that "he wasn't so bad after all."

Everyone in Leithania knew that the Witch King was cruel, but he seemed even more cruel to his enemies. It is undeniable that, at least during the Witch King's reign, Leithania's development reached its peak—whether in terms of the economy on paper or in politics and military affairs, the Witch King brought Leithania to new heights.

Even if one day he suddenly went mad and began to frantically expand the territory of Leithania, frequently declaring war, invading, and colonizing other countries, he still did not neglect any of Leithania's internal affairs.

Or rather, if it weren't for the series of reforms implemented by the Witch King before his madness, which strengthened the nation, how could Leithania have supported the Witch King's subsequent expansionist plans?

Moreover, after the Witch King began his expansion plan, most of the people of Leithania supported it, especially the Leithania army under the Witch King's command, which was at its strongest at the time. Under the Witch King's prestige, the Leithania army and the sorcerer's army launched an unstoppable offensive.

Otherwise, do you really think that the Leithania army, which is now described by Patriot as "weak and feeble," can compete with the once-powerful Victoria, Gaul, and Iberia? They were once powerful nations, and the Patriot' assessment is of the Leithania army after the death of the Witch King.

Moreover, and very importantly, the Witch King's cruelty is a well-known fact, and it is a concept that the Twin Empresses have been proclaiming for the past twenty years.

However, twenty years ago, even though Leithania won the Battle of the Four Emperors and the country was riddled with holes, the Witch King was ultimately overthrown not because of any so-called riot. None of the Infected were oppressed and exploited by him had such power. In the end, the Witch King was defeated by the Twin Empresses chosen by the emperors.

This is crucial, and it's the biggest reason why Leithania's situation is similar to Victoria's, but the approaches are drastically different!

The Emperor of Victoria was led to the guillotine by the people, but the Witch King was overthrown after a decision was made internally by the imperial princes. The people of Leithania only learned that the Witch King's rule had been overthrown the next day when they saw his corpse hanging on the table.

Therefore, for the people of Leithania, the Witch King's death was due to the failure of a political struggle, not because of "popular support"—of course, even if it were popular support, they would not have had the power to overthrow the Witch King.

The reigns of the Twin Empresses were initially quite good, but under the current special circumstances, after their expedition against the battered Victoria failed and they signed a humiliating ceasefire, the propaganda campaign by the remnants of the Witch King had a completely different effect.

"During the reign of our Witch King, the Leithania army was invincible!"

"During the reign of the great Witch King, we stood at the pinnacle of this land!"

"When have we ever suffered such humiliation? During the reign of the Witch King, even Gaul was destroyed by our army, and now we are forced to cede territory and pay reparations to those Feline of Victoria?!"

All these kinds of comments, after the failure of this expedition, brought forth long-dormant minor problems in Leithania, which, under specific circumstances, became a stone thrown at them, shaking their rule.

This is why, after learning about Leithania's situation, Chen Qi had no hesitation in having Ebenholz impersonate the Witch King and openly walk the streets. He didn't even give the public the feeling that they were filming a movie; it was all the public's genuine reaction.

Faced with the crowd's throng, Ebenholz was bewildered that everyone seemed to have no resistance to the "Witch King." To address this, he approached a clown performer in the square and immediately asked, "Where is the tower?"

"Tell me where. The fate of the Leithania hangs in the balance, and I must go and change everything—"

"Are you crazy? I'm performing—" Ebenholz uttered words he himself didn't believe. The clown actor, interrupted, initially scolded him, but upon meeting Ebenholz's gaze, he was somewhat surprised and quickly said:

"Hey, isn't that the Witch King? He's so cool, bro!"

"You said you're looking for the tower? It's right there, but if I were you, I definitely wouldn't dare wander around there dressed like that, haha!"

The clown actor made a lighthearted joke about Ebenholz, clearly treating him as someone simply cosplaying the Witch King. The fact that he didn't react with disgust even when Ebenholz was working caused him to momentarily lose his composure.

Why? This is the capital of Leithania! Don't the people under the Twin Empresses' noses feel any disgust at his outfit?

What exactly changed during the months he spent in the tower?

Ebenholz looked somewhat bewildered. He subconsciously walked forward and finally spotted the Rhodes Island operator Chen Qi had specifically instructed him to work with before they set off—he remembered her name was Eyjafjalla?

She was easy to spot because Eyjafjalla always carried a book on Catastrophe and held a staff. While warlocks like her were common in Leithania, she stood out in the plaza.

"Miss! What's the date today?" As soon as Ebenholz spoke, the results of half a month of training by Theresis and the Bloodborne Archon were immediately apparent. His classic voice made Eyjafjalla shudder involuntarily, and she immediately turned her gaze to Ebenholz.

Even though she was somewhat prepared, Eyjafjalla was still stunned when she saw Ebenholz's outfit. Ebenholz Key's face was half-revealed, and although she was disheveled, he still exuded a dangerous and dignified aura. She hadn't quite heard what Ebenholz was saying.

"Speak! What year is it?" Ebenholz continued reciting his lines, but the one who responded was Eyjafjalla, born in Leithania, who slowly raised her hand in a daze.

"Call!"

"Ah--!!"

Suddenly attacked by a ball of fire, Ebenholz, his face smeared with flames, retreated, clutching his face and howling in pain. Eyjafjalla herself, startled by the Witch King portrayed by Ebenholz, immediately launched an attack and fled.

Eyjafjalla knew perfectly well who she was supposed to be acting opposite, but the moment she saw Ebenholz, she forgot to spray Ebenholz with pepper spray (which was actually water) as instructed in the script, and instead subconsciously used Originium Arts.

As a Leithania, Eyjafjalla left Leithania very early, but this also meant she missed the time when the Witch King's reputation changed within Leithania, so her immediate reaction was to attack!

Thus, Eyjafjalla became the first film character to date to harbor hostility towards the "Witch King".

"Ah! Damn it! * Leithania slang*!"

Ebenholz howled and covered his face, retreating quite a distance. Fortunately, he had half a mask on, so only half of his face burned with pain. However, in front of the camera, that half of his face was blackened by the flames, making him look even more disheveled.

But on camera, Ebenholz was seen covering half his face with one hand, and his originally gray-blue eyes were now completely blood red, whether from the attack or from anger.

"The Witch King!"

At this moment, even Theresis and the Bloodborne Archon on the ship were startled by Eureka's camera lens. Coupled with Ebenholz's clenched teeth expression and the tone and accent of the Witch King that they had become accustomed to after half a month of special training, the anger and momentary killing intent revealed in his blood-red eyes even reminded them of the Witch King.

Chen Qi reacted quickly, immediately picking up the walkie-talkie and speaking to Nian, who was supervising:

"Remember to keep this shot! Slow it down when it's released!"

"Learn!"

Nian immediately understood Chen Qi's meaning. This shot was not in the original design, but Ebenholz's gaze was enough to make the audience feel that he was the real Witch King when the film was released, which would help them feel immersed in the story.

On camera, the attacked Ebenholz groped his way to the newspaper stand in the scene, grabbing onto it to calm himself down.

But perhaps due to exhaustion from the battle with the Bloodborne Archon, Eyjafjalla's small spell became the final straw that broke Ebenholz's back.

Then, everyone saw Ebenholz, after a moment of stunned silence, completely lose consciousness, fall to the ground unsteadily, and knock over the entire newspaper stand in the process.

"--What are you all standing there for? Go help Ebenholz up! Give him some water and food. Saria, could you please go to the scene and bring Ebenholz back to rest?"

The momentary silence fell over the unconscious Ebenholz, until Chen Qi's voice came through the walkie-talkie between Vina and Eureka. Everyone then reacted and hurriedly helped the exhausted Ebenholz up, placing him in the newsstand to rest.

"It seems the next phase of filming will have to be postponed." Seeing this, the Bloodborne Archon also drank the blood in his cup in one gulp, and found it amusing that he had just momentarily thought that Ebenholz had truly awakened the Witch King's bloodline resonance.

"Such strength doesn't deserve the title of 'descendant of the Witch King,' but that look in his eyes just now... interesting."

"Perhaps, the way to bring this child closer to the Witch King is through anger? He and that child named Kreide both possess the Witch King's blood, but they are diametrically opposed..."

The Bloodborne Archon's mutterings caught the attention of Theresis, who frowned slightly and said:

"Bloodborne Archon, whatever your thoughts, this is not what we should be doing now."

"--No, Prime Minister, I'm just curious, if my guess is correct, this movie will expose the child to even more scenes that will 'anger' him."

"I wonder, at the end of this movie, how much does this child resemble the Witch King...?"

A smile of interest crept across the Bloodborne Archon's lips. He seemed to have found a more interesting task—to stay temporarily and witness the transformation of Ebenholz before him, to see if Ebenholz would ultimately evolve into another "Witch King," just as he had imagined.

If so, perhaps I could glimpse a corner of the methods by which the Witch King, under his brutal and terrifying rule, ensured the smooth functioning of Leithania?

Now bearing the heavy responsibility of reviving the Sarkaz race, the Bloodborne Archon was unwilling to give up this opportunity. He vaguely felt that Chen Qi's movie involving the Witch King was definitely not just a publicity stunt, but must also contain theories that could help their Sarkaz race restore their kingdom.

Chapter 249: The Witch King: So many years have passed, and the Leithania still can't get bread?

"Hmm? Bloodborne Archon, you mean you plan to stay on the ship for the time being?"

Chen Qi was quite surprised when he learned of the Bloodborne Archon's decision. After all, Chen Qi had heard that the Bloodborne Archon's work in Londinium seemed to be very important. Victoria had set up a Sarkaz Administrative Department for them, and the Bloodborne Archon was temporarily serving as the department's secretary there.

The entire Sarkaz Administrative Department is staffed by Sarkaz, and the Bloodborne Archon must be very busy these days cultivating a group of trustworthy Sarkaz rank-and-file civil servants. Therefore, Chen Qi was somewhat puzzled when the Blood Lord proposed to stay on the ship temporarily until the filming of "The Witch King Is Back" was completed.

"Consider it an advance on my long vacation as the department secretary. The Regent and Manfred are there, so there won't be any problems." The Bloodborne Archon chuckled, toying with the ring on his hand.

"They also need to learn how to handle emergencies, and understand that without me as their indispensable department secretary, they simply wouldn't be able to manage many things— Bernard still has a lot to learn."

"This way, my dear prime minister won't always feel like he's lost me. I need to occasionally prove that my position is irreplaceable... at least for now."

That's what the Bloodborne Archon said, but Chen Qi also knew that the Bloodborne Archon hadn't told the whole truth. However, considering that Ebenholz's performance might still need some guidance from the Bloodborne Archon, Chen Qi decided to let the Bloodborne Archon stay.

However, the prerequisite is that they must remain inside the ship. Chen Qi dares not let the Bloodborne Archon go out at will, otherwise no one knows how many people will mysteriously disappear from the slums of the Mobile City the next day, and even high-ranking officials and nobles may disappear...

As for the blood bags that the Bloodborne Archon wants... just go to Rhodes Island and ask Warfarin for them. Tell her that if she doesn't give them to him, Chen Qi will transfer the Bloodborne Archon to Rhodes Island for temporary accommodation. Warfarin will definitely agree.

Chen Qi quickly shifted his attention from the Bloodborne Archon's temporary residence back to filming, and now, after a few days of rest, Ebenholz has also returned to filming.

In the film's background, the Witch King, played by Ebenholz, is in a state of severe injury and weakness due to his defeat by the Twin Empresses Witch King his fall from the tower. He collapses from exhaustion at a newsstand and is temporarily taken in by the newsstand owner to recuperate.

Incidentally, the role of the newsstand owner is played by Rhodes Island operator "Earthspirit." This Catastrophe Messenger, like Eyjafjalla, has shown curiosity about acting. When Chen Qi was looking for actors from Leithania, they immediately signed up.

Meanwhile, the protagonist "Sawatzki," played by Kreide, is facing setbacks at the television station where he works. While awkwardly pursuing the receptionist he likes, played by the agent "Blemishine," he accidentally speaks ill of his boss and gets caught red-handed.

Unfortunately, his boss had just lost the election for company director to another colleague who was also a deputy director, and was in a very bad mood.

The character played by Kreide happened to have a terrible recent performance, and as a result of this, he was ruthlessly fired.

"However, I really don't understand how you managed to invite Master Czerny to play this boss. He is indeed a very good choice; although he seems a bit irritable and harsh, he is not unlikeable."

After the performance, Kreide changed out of her clothes and curiously approached Chen Qi to ask him something. Chen Qi's answer, however, struck Kreide as simple:

"I only tried inviting him, but as soon as Mr. Czerny heard that I was the one who invited him to act in the film, he immediately dropped everything and came over—his explanation was that after losing his sponsors, he had to scramble for a rare salary."

"However, I learned from his Granny Ursula, who usually takes care of him, that Mr. Czerny seems to admire me quite a bit in private... probably because of the foundation I co-founded with Rhine Lab in Columbia to improve the living conditions of people with Infected and autism."

"As expected, good deeds are rewarded." Kreide suddenly realized what was going on. He knew about Chen Qi's deeds and had also heard of Czerny's great name. He just didn't expect that the legendary and very proud Master Czerny would come to the film crew by such a twist of fate.

However, Kreide only sighed about it briefly before focusing his attention on the big screen. At that moment, the Witch King, played by Ebenholz, was lying in a recliner in the newsstand, and the newsstand owner, played by Earthspirit, was a kind man who provided a lot of help.

"--What year is it this year?" The first thing Ebenholz asked upon waking was as if the Witch King had truly traveled through time. The Earthspirit, facing this face she had seen countless times in textbooks, showed none of the fear Eyjafjalla displayed. Instead, she seized the opportunity to mock the "Witch King."

"Of course, it's 1095. What year do you hope it will be? 1053 (the end of the Battle of the Four Emperors, when the Witch King's rule reached its peak)?"

As Ebenholz tried to get up, Earthspirit quickly pressed him down, enjoying the feeling of suppressing the Witch King. Ebenholz asked blankly, "... Is this kidnapping?"

"Yeah! Hahaha..." Earthspirit deliberately startled him, then got up to look for something, leaving Ebenholz alone in the newsstand, deep in thought.

Although he is acting now, Ebenholz, after special training, has already figured out how to act to the end—that is, to put himself in the character's shoes, and to let his expression naturally reflect the thoughts of the character he is playing.

At this moment, the Witch King's thought was undoubtedly to figure out what was going on.

"Could this be a dirty trick played by those sisters and the emperors who betrayed me?" Ebenholz muttered to himself, his thoughts now revealed.

"... No, that's impossible. If it were just to imprison me, they wouldn't need to create a new world. Besides, I can move freely in this parallel world. They can't do magic of that level."

"No, that's unimaginable. They attacked me to kill me. Even if it was surveillance, they should have sent someone far more capable than this stupid newspaper vendor."

"... Without a doubt, I have to kill him, even though I'm seriously injured right now and need time to recover. But a mere nobody is still an option."

Ebenholz, who was now thinking like Witch King, silently reached into his robes—there lay a small staff, which he had learned about from the Witch King's information. His current equipment was exactly the same as the Witch King's.

But just as Ebenholz was pondering how to kill silently, Earthspirit finally returned, this time with a bottle of drink in her hand. She handed it directly to Ebenholz and said:

"Have some water to keep your mind clear, or you'll faint again."

After hesitating for a moment, Ebenholz accepted the bottled drink offered by Earthspirit. After Kung Fu Hustle to unscrew the Ebenholz, he didn't rush to drink it, but instead looked at the new beverage with great interest.

Ebenholz took a quick sniff and seemed to immediately identify the ingredients in the drink. Then, he asked Earthspirit this question:

"--An energy drink containing stimulants. This is a beverage I have approved for use only within the military to address the problem of low morale when rations are insufficient."

"Now this is happening here... it seems the bread supply problem has resurfaced? And army officers have started reselling it?"

"... The first thing is to inquire about the local food supply." Even Kreide was surprised that the Witch King, played by Ebenholz, would ask such a question. After all, even a kind person like Kreide knew that the Witch King ruled Leithania with cruelty and fear, but he was unaware of the other side of the Witch King.

"Before the Witch King went mad, his achievements were quite remarkable." At this moment, the Bloodborne Archon, always eager to teach, promptly explained to Kreide:

"At that time, Leithania was just a small country. Compared to the powerful nations of Victoria and Gaul, they should have only been destined to be devoured and annexed. The appearance of the Witch King gave Leithania a new life."

"Don't just look at how scary he is, kid. He was a terrifying guy even before he used his strength. You should take a closer look at this."

As the Bloodborne Archon finished speaking, the newspaper owner played by Earthspirit on the screen clearly didn't recognize Ebenholz as the Witch King himself. Ebenholz didn't bother to explain, realizing that exposing his identity could put him in danger.

Now that he was in an unfamiliar environment, the Witch King in the newspapers was also eager to find out more information to make sure that the world he was in was in a certain state.

Do you have the Observer and the Vanguard?

"Those things no longer exist," the Earthspirit replied.

"Then give me the * Golden Law Caster Gazette *!" Ebenholz looked at the newspaper in his hand, which was written in Kazimierz. Even the Witch King, who had spent his life purging dissidents and slaughtering foreigners, frowned and said, "These are almost all in Kazimierz."

"We have many Kazimierz customers here."

"The Kazimierz of Leithania?" Upon hearing this, the Witch King, played by Ebenholz, showed an incredulous expression and muttered to himself:

"During the Battle of the Four Emperors, the Leithania Empire changed the course of the war, but I didn't expect the Kazimierz to have that ability."

The Leithania are now scattered throughout Terra because, after the Battle of the Four Emperors, although Leithania was ravaged, its people looked down upon the land as victors. However, Kazimierz did not participate in the Battle of the Four Emperors, and the Witch King believes that the large number of Kazimierz people appearing here now can only mean that they have also performed similar feats.

Our destiny has already been written... But who decides our fate?

Ebenholz turned his gaze to the magazine and newspaper in his hands, and now, the Witch King's confession written in the script was slowly spoken from Ebenholz's mouth.

"The first step is to obtain information; I found enough at the newsstand."

"Clearly, people believe I'm dead. Many zealots have recently made futile attempts to explain my achievements to the public."

"We won the Battle of the Four Emperors, but with my death, it was no different from a defeat. After the fall of Gaul, Victoria received most of the land, but my death left Leithania with only a small piece."

"Leithania is now led by those two embarrassing twin sisters—one of whom now has a voice like a raven."

"They collaborated with a group of Gaul remnants to establish that pathetic, makeshift, democratic, and imperial state! My eyes always fill with tears when I see this laughable democracy..."